Four arrested in East Oakland gambling parlor robbery

OAKLAND — Four men were arrested early Sunday on suspicion of robbing about a dozen players at an illegal East Oakland gambling operation, authorities said.

The men were arrested after one of the victims was able to make a 911 call  to police, who found the suspects trying to evade arrest by blending in with the victims, authorities said.

The robbery happened about 5 a.m. Sunday at the gambling operation, which was being run out of the rear part of a cafe in the 1900 block of International Boulevard. Police said the gambling was being done on video gaming  machines.

The suspects, wearing masks and brandishing guns, forced their way inside and began ordering the dozen or so players to give up their valuables, police said.

Some of the players were struck with guns. It was not clear if any of them required hospitalization. The robbers took wallets, cash, jewelry and other items from the players, who were mostly men but also some women, police said.

But before the robbers could escape, the police, alerted by the 911 call, arrived at the scene and prevented them from fleeing.
The suspects tried unsuccessfully to blend in with the victims and were arrested, police said.

Some guns were recovered. The names of the suspects were not released Sunday afternoon because they had not been booked. 

Source: eastbaytimes.com